Your Thyroid May Be Causing Your Hair Loss: Here’s How
If youâre seeing more hair than ever before stuck in the drain or your hairbrush, you may begin to worry that youâre losing your hair. Hypothyroidism is a fairly common cause of hair loss, and hypothyroidism-related hair loss can also be reversible.
âA blood test to rule out thyroid abnormalities should always be a part of the diagnosis for hair loss due to medical conditions,â Abraham Armani, MD, a hair-restoration surgeon and hair loss specialist in Dallas, Texas, tells WebMD Connect to Care.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is normal to lose 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. If your hair is thick or long, a few dozen strands might look like a large clump, even if the number of hairs youâre losing is completely normal. But what if you are losing your hair?
Inadequate Iron As A Cause Of Our Hair Loss
Another extremely common cause of hair loss in hypothyroid patients is inadequate levels of iron, whether mildly low or the more serious form called iron deficiency anemiai.e. when our iron drops so low that the levels cant help the production of our red blood cells .
Why do inadequate levels of iron cause our hair to fall out, shed and/or thin? Iron is a critical nutrient within the hemoglobin in your red blood cells, carrying oxygen throughout your body. Thus, if your body is receiving inadequate levels of oxygen, it goes into a survival mode, shifting oxygen towards other important functions rather than your hair follicles. So your hair starts to fall out.
See where iron levels should be here. Its NOT about falling anywhere in those ridiculous ranges!!
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How To Stop Hair Loss Due To Hyperthyroidism
Your doctor will no doubt provide you with the appropriate medical guidance as your move forward treating your hyperthyroidism. This will include medication that will help regulate the overactive thyroid.
However, there are a number of steps you can take in other aspects of your life to help alleviate any symptoms.
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Hyperthyroidism And Hair Loss
If you suffer from hyperthyroidism, yes, you may notice a change in your hair. Hyperthyroidism can make the hair feel dry and brittle, may be prone to more breakage, or may fall out gradually.
Sadly, hair loss due to hyperthyroidism is extremely common, and – as hair is so personal – can be an extremely upsetting side effect.
Fortunately, in most cases, when hyperthyroidism is diagnosed it can then be properly managed, so hair growth should resume as normal eventually.
Natural Home Remedies For Hair Loss
Several natural remedies, including hair-stimulating agents, oils, and supplements, can help fight hair loss by strengthening the hair follicles and promoting hair regrowth. These remedies can be incorporated into your hair care regimen.
But bear in mind that these remedies are not magic bullets that will stop or reverse your hair fall with a few uses. You must use them consistently for months in the correct manner to see good results.
Also, these therapies are typically recommended for general hair loss and may have no effect on the underlying thyroid problem. So theres a good chance that they might not deliver the expected results or even trigger untoward effects by reacting with your thyroid treatment.
Therefore, it is best to consult your doctor before using any of these remedies, especially before starting any oral supplement.
Caution: Conduct a patch test before using a new topical hair remedy to make sure you are not allergic to any of the following ingredients used.
- Biotin
- Caffeine
Note: Biotin supplements may influence the concentration of TSH in your blood. So, if you are going for a TSH test, discontinue the supplement a week before the test to avoid an incorrect reading. Besides, you must always inform your doctor about the supplements that you are taking.
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How Thyroid Hormones Cause Hair Loss
Your hair follicles follow a natural cycle of hair growth and resting phases. At any given time, most of your hair is growing while only a small portion of it is resting. But when changes in the body throw off that cycle, too much hair rests at one time and not enough grows, resulting in excessive hair loss, thinning hair, or balding.
Many medical conditions can cause hair loss, with thyroid disease a common culprit. Thyroid problems include both an underactive thyroid gland and an overactive thyroid gland . Because hair growth depends on the proper functioning of the thyroid gland, abnormal levels of thyroid hormone produced by this gland can result in hair changes, along with many other side effects, if left untreated. When there is too much thyroid hormone, the hair on your head can become fine, with thinning hair all over the scalp. When there is too little of this hormone, there can be hair loss, not just on the scalp, but also anywhere on the body.
Ironically, taking the hormone levothyroxine to treat an underactive thyroid can contribute to some hair loss, among other side effects, but this seems to be more common within the first month of treatment and more often in children than adults. This hair loss is only temporary and will go away as treatment is continued and thyroid hormone levels stabilize.
S To Stop Hypothyroidism Hair Loss
Are you experiencing hypothyroidism hair loss? Is your hair falling out by the clumps when youre in the shower or brushing your hair? You may be wondering, will it grow back? This can happen for a few different reasons, but fortunately it is reversible!
This may sound vein, but for me, one of the worst parts of having hypothyroidism was pulling out clumps of hair on a daily basis. Whether it was in the shower, while combing my hair or simply going out on a windy day, I would witness my once thick and long mane deteriorate into strings of hair.
As most of you who have lost a lot of hair know, being able to see your scalp is not a fun prospect. Hair loss is a common symptom of hypothyroidism as optimal levels of thyroid hormone as well as specific nutrients are needed to stop hair loss and to promote new hair growth.
Many women are terrified to lose their hair because in todays society it is a sign of female virility and sexuality. And many who have hypothyroidism do not realize that their hair loss is in fact related to their chronic condition. The good news is that if you have hypothyroidism, there are things to consider that can help you to stop hair loss AND possibly grow some back.
Here are a few tips to take on board:
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Role Of Thyroid Gland In Your Body
The thyroid gland is one of the most important endocrine glands in your body. It is located under your voice box at the front of the neck. It regulates body functions by continually releasing thyroxine hormones into your bloodstream. Thyroxine acts as a catalyst for maintaining the rate of oxidative metabolism in most tissues of your body.
If your body needs more energy in certain situations like pregnancy, recovering from illness, etc., the thyroid gland produces more hormones. The pituitary gland helps the thyroid gland to make the right amount of hormones.
Cells in your body receive their ‘cue’ from thyroxine. Thyroxine stimulates cells to perform their functions quickly and upregulates cellular utilization of energy. The thyroid gland’s functional defects result in
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
Is Subclinical Hypothyroidism Reversible
While subclinical hypothyroidism represents a problem in your body and in your hormones, it also represents the opportunity to catch a problem before it snowballs out of control.
For this reason, its very important to get the diagnosis early so that you can seek out and find the problem.
One question you might be asking yourself is this:
Can I improve my thyroid function?
And the answer is almost always yes, to some degree.
Because most physicians arent really willing to prescribe thyroid hormone for this condition that leaves you with the ability to take matters into your own hands and take some steps to improve your thyroid function.
Treating Subclinical Hypothyroidism Naturally
If youve recently been diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism and want to be active and aggressive about your condition I recommend starting with these tips:
*Note you may ultimately need physician help to get proper treatment, but you can start here.
#1. Address basic nutrient deficiencies in your body.
You can easily evaluate for basic vitamin deficiencies like B12, Vitamin D3, Folic acid, and omega 3 fatty acids.
In addition, many patients have existing deficiencies of nutrients like zinc and selenium.
Simply checking for and replacing can often time dramatically reduce symptoms.
#2. Check to see if your impaired thyroid status is due to Hashimotos or autoimmune thyroiditis.
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This World Thyroid Day Learn More About The Natural Treatments For Hair Loss Due To Hypothyroidism:
1. Ayurvedic remedies
Ayurvedic remedies like triphala and ashwagandha can enable in making hair roots stronger. Ashwagandha, when mixed with coconut oil, can make the hair roots stronger. Ayurveda has been suggested as a natural treatment for hair loss since it restores balances of T3 and T4 hormones in the body.
2. Eat ginger
Ginger has been considered as a natural home remedy for improving functioning of hormones in the body. It is natural treatment for hair loss as well.
Photo Credit: iStockAlso read: 7 Things That Happen When You Start Eating Ginger Daily
3. Prevent deficiency of Vitamin D
Hypothyroidism makes the body deficient of Vitamin D. Taking supplements of Vitamin D can be helpful in this case. Another natural remedy is by sitting under the sun for around 20 minutes. This improves functioning of the thyroid and body’s metabolism. With the restoration of thyroid gland, hair growth will improve over time.
Photo Credit: iStock4. Avoid processed foods, caffeine, sugar and alcohol
People suffering from hypothyroidism are suggested to avoid processed foods, caffeine, sugar and alcohol. This is to avoid weight gain and also to prevent worsening thyroid and hair loss.
Photo Credit: iStock5. Consume more turmeric
Anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric are helpful in boosting body’s immune system. It also has positive effects on functioning of hormones in the body.
6. Avoid goitrogenic foods
7. Increase intake of Vitamin B12
What Is The Best Solution To Stop Hair Loss Due To Thyroid Problems
There are many causes of hair loss. However, there are also many methods of treatment. Diets, supplements, surgeries, medications, or exercises can be examples of these methods of treatment. Still, not all methods may be effective in hair loss due to thyroid problems. The solutions to this problem are the medications and nutrients mentioned above. You can apply both methods or choose with your doctor which one is more appropriate. Medications might be seen as a more precise solution but nutrients will also be effective. One is a natural treatment of hair loss due to thyroid problems. The other is the chemical one. You choose the one that suits you best.
If the hair loss is permanent or the hair does not regrow, you may want to consider hair transplantation. For information about this, you can contact us online or by video.
There are two main types of thyroid disease: hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism .
The conditions that frequently cause hypothyroidism include:
- Thyroiditis: Inflammation of the gland, causing lower hormone production.
- Postpartum thyroiditis: Occurs in 5-9% of women after giving birth and is usually temporary.
- Hashimotos thyroiditis: An autoimmune condition that damages the thyroid.
- Non-functioning thyroid: In 1 out of 4,000 babies, the gland doesnt work from birth.
- Iodine deficiency: Low iodine levels can affect the thyroids hormone production.
The conditions that frequently cause hyperthyroidism include:
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What Does Thyroid Hair Loss Look Like
According to the American Association of Dermatology, losing 50-100 strands of hair is normal. However, it is when you start noticing hair fall thats more than usual, you have something to worry about. You might notice more strands of hair on the bedsheets, floor, in the hairbrush and drain.
You wont develop any bald patch as a result of thyroid hair loss . Also, keep in mind this kind of diffuse thyroid hair loss wont only affect the scalp but also your eyelashes and eyebrows.
Thyroid Disorder & Hair Loss Whats The Connection
Statistics show that in India close to 12 million people annually are affected by thyroid malfunction, of which hair loss is a common symptom.
It has been proven that hair growth is highly dependent on the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. These effects are seen when there is an increase in hair thinning or a high rate of hair loss anywhere on the body.
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Common Thyroid Conditions & Hair Fall Issues
The thyroid gland is located along the windpipe and is responsible for producing a hormone that helps with cell reproduction, maintains energy levels, and influences metabolism.
When thyroid levels become imbalanced, the following thyroid diseases can occur
- Hypothyroidism is a condition with an under-active thyroid gland which can directly be attributed to hair thinning and hair loss if left untreated. An insufficient amount of thyroid hormone is produced which, in turn, compromises the chemical reactions required in the body. It results in a low cell regeneration factor. Low levels of iron and nutritional deficiencies are common factors for hypothyroidism.
- Hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of the thyroid hormone. The bodys metabolism rate increases leading to hair loss, weight loss, irregular heartbeat, sweating, anxiety, and mood swings. This condition is not easily diagnosed due to the generic nature of its symptoms but can eventually be isolated by checking thyroid hormone levels.
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How To Treat Thyroid
Can thyroid issues cause hair loss? Yes. Hair loss is one of the more distressing symptoms of thyroid disease. Find out how to fix it.
If you deal with hair loss or hair thinning because of thyroid imbalances or thyroid-related autoimmune disease, you are certainly not alone. An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid dysfunction 60% of which do not have an official diagnosis.
According to The American Thyroid Association , this dysfunction is so prevalent that more than 12% of the population will develop a thyroid condition at some point in his or her lifetime.
Thyroid issues can wreak havoc on your skin, hair, sex drive, waistline, energy levels, anxiety and depression levels, sleep cycles, and even your bone density. If you have been diagnosed with a thyroid condition, you might be no stranger to these problems.
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